When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Barcelona have announced that Ajax midfielder Frenkie De Jong has agreed to join the club at the end of the season.

The 21-year-old has quickly become one of Europe's most coveted talents after impressing in the Eredivisie, and Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain were among the clubs hoping to sign him .

French giants PSG have been favourites for the last few weeks to land the player but Barcelona have clinched the deal with an initial fee of around £65m (€75m) plus a further £9.6m (€11m) in add-ons.

Confirmation of De Jong's move leaves City still in need of a successor for Fernandinho.

The club opted not to go back into the transfer market last summer after missing out on Jorginho when they refused to meet Napoli's valuation of the midfielder, and Pep Guardiola admitted this month that it is a vital transfer to get right in time for next season given the club's midfield star turns 34 in May.

Read More

Related Articles

"It's not difficult - there are many who can play in that position. There are many clubs in the world, many holding midfielders in the world, and most of them can play here. That's not the point," he said.

"Most of them are under contracts. A month ago, I started reading - 'Ruben Neves, £100m'. That is not going to happen, we are not going to pay £100m for a holding midfielder.

"Of course, all departments in the club, we have in every position four or five or six options - depending on age, what we believe and, of course, the price.

The signing of Riyad Mahrez has made City's squad the most expensively assembled in Europe (Image: Getty Images)

"The most expensive one was Riyad [Mahrez] and he is far away from what the top teams pay. Our wage bill for the players is eighth or ninth or tenth in Europe, so there are eight or nine clubs where the wages are higher than what Manchester City pay. We try to be stable in everything.

"When we spent a lot last season, it was because the team was old - it was 30-31 years old and that's why we did it. But we cannot do it every season.

"We have a limit and cannot spend more so that's why we need to be careful with the players and try next season to see what we can do to improve."